Kentucky Sports Radio
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
[Moderated by Matt Jones, Drew Franklin and Tyler Thompson]
Well, this is an lovely surprise! We began today thinking that the off weekend meant a slow day in the Big Blue Nation. Boy, were we wrong. It seems that if Kentucky isn’t playing on national television, ESPN will find some other way to showcase the Wildcats. Today, they’ll do so by airing the commitment of Dakari Johnson, a 6’10″/250 lb center with all the necessary accolades to become a Wildcat: top center in the class of 2013, No. 12 overall prospect, five stars, member of the Team USA that won the FIBA U17 World Championship this past summer, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist’s “lil bro” and teammate at St. Patrick’s, and poops ice cream. That last one is unconfirmed, but you get the point.
After jokingly telling teammates and reporters that he would be committing to “Phoenix Online,” Dakari Johnson is deciding among Kentucky, Syracuse, and Georgetown. Turn your televisions to ESPNU, wait for halftime of the 8 pm Cancer Research Classic game, and settle in. Click refresh on this page every so often as I’ll be updating you on Johnson’s every move leading up to the announcement. Let’s have some fun.
8:49 pm: Phoenix Online is really salty right now.
8:48 pm: Biggest factors? The coaches, who Johnson felt were honest about the hard work and selflessness required to be a Wildcat. Kentucky fans can expect Johnson to be a hard worker, a presence in the post on both offense and defense, and a great teammate.
8:47 pm: KENTUCKY!
8:46 pm: Fit was most important to Dakari in his decision. He wants to win championships in high school, college, and NBA. Yes…
8:45 pm: Dakari looking sharp in a purple polo. Talking with announcers about the suddenness of his announcement. The decision to announce early came after discussing it with his family.
8:44 pm: Here we go…
8:43 pm: HALFTIME. Let’s do this.
8:42 pm: The Salesian vs Gonzaga high school game feaures Jabari Bird, who’s committed to California. Every time the announcer mentions Bird and Cal, my heart jumps thinking he means Coach Calipari. #KentuckyEffect
8:38 pm: In case you forgot, Johnson and Montverde (what a lovely name for a school) are coming off an emphatic 82-53 win over Jabari Parker and Simeon. At the end of the third quarter, Johnson had 12 points and 9 rebounds on 6-8 shooting while Coach Cal and Coach O watched.
8:35 pm: Dakari just tweeted “Decision time.” I’m geeking.
8:32 pm: The current Cancer Research Classic game, Salesian vs Gonzaga, has five minutes left in the half. I have the commitment jitters already. It’s probably unnecessary, but I feel alive.
8:25 pm: I have spent the time preceding the announcement by thoroughly researching Dakari Johnson, seeing as how I’m a serious and professional journalist. My favorite nuggets of information so far have hailed from his bio on USA Basketball’s website. For example, Dakari’s favorite app is Temple Run and he has once held a position as a babysitter. Similarly, I am babysitting as we speak. The kids are in bed. I think.
@KristenGeilKSR
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Bill Keightley Report : Never to be forgotten.
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January 5th, 2013 at 8:34 pm
You are ate up! But funny.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:35 pm
Not first
January 5th, 2013 at 8:36 pm
What a way to spend an off Saturday. High school football game. Bengals. Football commit. High shcool basketball game. Basketball commit?
January 5th, 2013 at 8:38 pm
I’ve seen his highlight vids. Am I missing something? Unimpressed. Not very athletic. I hope I’m wrong.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:39 pm
He is big..huge and runs the floor well. Think Bynum.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:41 pm
ACK! There’s a BIG…RED…BIRD in the middle of the floor on that game!!! Gag!!!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:41 pm
I hope that’s supposed to be a hawk and not a card.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:44 pm
2 possible big-time commits in 1 night shoulda been live-blogged!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Here he goes…
January 5th, 2013 at 8:44 pm
Anyone have a streaming link?
January 5th, 2013 at 8:45 pm
C-A-T-S! CATSCATSCATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
Second player Cal has gotten from Boyle.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
Boom!!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
YES! This never gets old!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
LOVE IT
January 5th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
Whoop there it is!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:46 pm
Oh yes!!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Dakari Johnson is a Wildcat!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
And I’m sick of hearin people say this but folks he’s 6’10 270 he’s not gonna be lebron James he’s freakin huge
January 5th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Time to make room for number 9 in the rafters of RUPP
January 5th, 2013 at 8:47 pm
Glad these guys don’t seem to be playing the shell game with the hats like so many guys have done in the past.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:48 pm
When he said – I want to win a national championship – it could only mean Kentucky!!!! Welcome to the best ever program young man!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:48 pm
If you babysit me, i will double your pay.
No, ten fold increase…
January 5th, 2013 at 8:48 pm
Only Randle or Wiggins or Gordon left
January 5th, 2013 at 8:49 pm
Wiggins and Randle come on down…
January 5th, 2013 at 8:49 pm
Wow, it’s like I said the other day. It’s almost like Cal just lines ‘em up and says “Okay, I’ll take you, and you, and you…”. Or what’s that old saying? Something like “He just sets ‘em up and knocks ‘em down!”.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:49 pm
Now that is a “Big” Johnson.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:51 pm
We just need Wiggins now as the icing on a Championship team.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:51 pm
25, that screen name is salt on an open wound to this Bengals fan!
It’s been much easier to take with the 2 big commits the Cats got tonight though!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:51 pm
This guy is more than just a good player. I like his interview, speaking ability and the obivious statements. I don’t know his GPA, but bet it’s good.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:52 pm
Wonder how many players are commuting to LOUISVILLE today??
January 5th, 2013 at 8:53 pm
Dakari is ‘trending’
January 5th, 2013 at 8:53 pm
this will not scare off Wiggins or Randle,
they both want a big center.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:57 pm
Forget Louisville! Phoenix Online fans are REALLY livid right now. Take that one, Phoenix! LOL! That’s funny that he joked about that.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:57 pm
Great get and a missing piece we needed in this class, Freakish class.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:40 pm
Things You Do Not Know About Phoenix Online:
Enrollment: 300,005
School Nickname: The Lap Toppers
Uniforms: Flashing…red, green & yellow
Arena: Centrally located in St. Louis
Record 2011 – 2012: Won 3, Lost 27
Best Win In Program History: Beat Duke online in 2010 when Duke’s server crashed in the last 2.5 seconds of the game.
Average Age of Cheerleaders: 43
Recruits 2013: (4) committed; 5 star programmer, 3 star social worker, 1 star lawyer, 5 star used car salesman ……1 Walk On – Dentist (grades could be problem)
Famous Alum: Donald Trump, Tonya Harding, Unibomber, Allen Iverson & Rupert Murdock
Coach: Billy G
January 5th, 2013 at 9:57 pm
Rivals…Please update the “list” to reflect Kentucky. Five signed FIVE star recruits!
January 6th, 2013 at 12:06 am
So excited that Tracy Morgan will be a Wildcat!